Informal Philosophical Fallacies

• Define Fallacy.

  In an argument, a fallacy is an error or flaw in reasoning.

  • Also could be defined as an error or flaw in an argument.
• Why do fallacies occur?

  Sometimes it's an accidental mistake made by the person arguing. But most likely, they are being used as a device to win an argument.
• Define Ad Hominem (Ad Hominem Attack).

  This fallacy occurs when, instead of addressing someone's argument or position, you irrelevantly attack the person or some aspect of the person who is making the argument.

  • This attack can also be direct to membership in a group or institution.
• Define False Dilemma (Bifurcation).

  When you reason from an either - or position and you haven't considered all relevant possibilities, you commit the fallacy of false dilemma (bifurcation fallacy).

  • Also could be defined as one or the other. Acting like there is ONLY two options, when there are so many more options besides the two OR assuming things without thinking about all other possibilities.
• Define Irrelevant Authority.

  The fallacy of irrelevant authority is committed when you accept a person's or group claim or position as true without proper support for their authority or knowledge.

  • Authorities can be used when they are reporting on their field of expertise, on facts about which there is some agreement in his or her field, and you have reason to believe he or she can be trusted.
• Define Red Herring.

  This fallacy consists in diverting attention from the real issue by focusing instead on an issue having only a surface or tangential relevance to the claim.

  • In other words, a distraction from the real issue by focusing on something unrelated.
• Define Slippery Slope.

  A course of action is rejected because, with little or no evidence, one insists that it will lead to a chain reaction resulting in an undesirable end or ends.

  • In other words, the slippery slope involves acceptance of a succession of events without direct evidence that this course of events will happen. Assuming the outcome will be bad.